How did Nickelback gain a large fan base despite criticism of their music?

(It really bugs me that such a boring, unoriginal band gets so much attention when there are loads of other way more interesting bands out there.)

Here’s my ranking of Nickleback’s discography. They don’t have a bad album at all. But some are better than others. In last place is their most recent album. I felt it was very uninspired. This track is the best one and that track is pretty good. But the rest of the album doesn’t do much for me…

Yay! Nickleback!

Reddit user surprised when 1960s computer panel emerged from collapsed family garage - Ars Technica

(Nickleback? They suck. Who cares…)

Dude, you heard that new single by that band, Nickleback? It’s awesome! Holy crap! That song is everywhere! It’s so cool!

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Can CCTV cameras be integrated with other sensor technologies for enhanced security solutions? If so, how?

Nickleback are awesome! My new favourite band! I just got their fourth album. It totally rocks!

(Nickleback sucks! They’re the worst band ever! I can’t stand them. Why do so many people like them? So unoriginal!)

Hey, have you heard of this new band, Nickleback? Their first album is pretty cool.

My grandmother deeded me her house before she passed last year. Her son still lives there refusing to move. What steps should I take to have him removed?

(Wow! What’s with this band? So many people are going nuts for them? What’s so special about them? They had a decent song or two. But there’s no originality now. They’re just wearing themselves out chasing their own tail.)

Nickleback! Nickleback!

(It sounds a bit too much like they took what made them popular from the previous album and just did more of that.)

What is the worst thing your sibling has done?

Hey, man, that band I told you about, Nickleback? The dropped their sophomore. It’s really good. Check it out.

(Yeah, it was great at first. But I have heard it a bit too much.)

I think it went something like this.

If the world was flat, would it be possible to see Mount Everest if it was on the other side of the Earth on a clear sunny day?

Something like that. Millions of people love them. Millions claim to hate them. The most honest criticism of the music is that it sounds like it’s being written deliberately for a particular market. I haven’t heard anything since around 2002 or so, so I can’t say for myself. They don’t suck as in bad musicians or bad song writers. They just sell millions of albums while other excellent bands struggle. That’s what the real problem is, I think.